Feed means for traction-elevators.



' PATENTED OCT. 1, 1907.

I A. J. GATES.

FEED MEANS FOR TRAGTION ELEVATORS.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 13, 1905.

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mm): PETERS cm, WASHINGYON. n c- UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

ALBERT J. GATES, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ALLIS-OHALMERS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FEED MEANS FOR TRACTION-ELEVATORS.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907;

Application filed February 13, 1905. Serial No. 46,5l5.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. GATES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Means forTraction-Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for introducing crushed ore, stone orother material into the buckets of a rectilinearly traveling elevator,usually vertical, in such a manner that the spilling out of material, asordinarily spouted into the elevator, is avoided. Its object is toprevent large pieces, commonly called spawls, from partially enteringthe bucket and afterward coming in contact with the end of the dischargespout, thereby frequently causing great damage either by destruction ofthe elevator buckets, or breaking of the chain or other flexible meansupon which the buckets are mounted, 20 The invention consists generallyof an apron or baffle plate used in connection with the spoutdischarging the material to the elevator, this bafiiing plate being of awidth slightly in excess of the width of the bucket and extendingdownward from the end of the discharge spout a sufficient distancedependent upon the size of the elevator buckets so that there is alwaysone bucket in its proper position with relation to the apron forreceiving the material from the discharge spout, before the precedingbucket passes the end of the spout. This apron therefore is fixed asreierred to the framing 2. With such a structure all the material fromthe discharge spout must enter the elevator buckets, and, owing to thepresence of the apron, it is impossible for any to overhang the edge ofthe bucket, or catch on the under edge of the discharge spout as thebucket is being elevated.

For a more specific disclosure of my invention, reference is made to theaccompanying drawing, in which,-

Figure l is a plan view of the discharge spout and elevator, showing butone bucket. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the dischargespout, apron, and a portion of the elevator.

The feed spout 1 is located upon framing 2, so as to deliver by gravityto the elevator 3, material placed upon it. This elevator is of theordinary construction, consisting of a flexible means, such as a chainor other means, here shown as a belt 4, upon which in any convenient wayare mounted buckets 5. This flexible means is not shown in Fig. 2. Thebuckets are attached to the belt 4 in any convenient way; that shownconsists in fastening to the belt 4 transverse rods 6, to which thebuckets 5 are attached. Upon the ends of the rods are mounted rollers 7.These rollers co-act with wheels 8 at the top and bottom of 55 theelevator. The wheels 8 are adjustable so as to tighten the belt by meansof the screw 9. They may be grooved as shown for use-with chains ifdesirable so that the belt 4 may be dispensed with. As this forms nopart of my invention, I will not describe it in detail. The spout 1 isunobstructed as to the passage of mate- 6O rial over.it by gravity andmay be termed an unobstructed gravity spout. 7

At the delivery end of the feed spout l, is locatedian apron 10. Thisapron depends from the end of the feed spout. in a direction along theedges of the ascending buckets 5, so as to co-act therewith. The apronhas upwardly extending arms 19, within which the sides of the spoutLextend. The apron 10 extends down a sufficient distance so as to be intangential relation to the path of the receiving edges of the ascend- 70 ing buckets; that is, the apron extends down a little beyond theupwardly rectilinearly traveling portion of the elevator. Or, thetangential relation maygbe established by placing the apron along therectilinearly traveling portion of the elevator and curving the lower 75 end of the apron away from that portion of the elevator. The formerarrangement is preferable as the maximum effect of the elevator can beutilized as the spout is relatively lower respecting the elevator.

In either arrangement, the essential feature is that the plane portionof the apron should be of an extent below the plane of the spout atleast equal to the distance between the receiving edges of twoconsecutive buckets traveling rectilinearly. That is, this extent shouldbe at least equal to the pitch of the buckets. This essential featurewill insure at least one bucket being in co-action with the apron at alltimes and so prevent material from projecting beyond the receiving edgesof the buckets. If necessary, guidesmay be provided for the rollers '7for the rectilinear travel of the elevator so as to insure co-action ofthe receiving edges of the buckets 5 with the apron 10, but the elevatortightening means 9 will ordinarily be sufficient, to insure suchco-action. The delivery end of the spout 1 is narrower than the buckets5, and the latter narrower than the apron 10, to prevent spilling ofmaterial.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;

but I desire it to be understood that the apparatus shown is merelyillustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a feed means for traction elevators, the combination of arectilinear-1y. traveling elevating means, an unobstructed gravity spoutfeeding to said elevating means, and a fixed apron depending from thespout and co-acting therewith and with the elevating means.

2. In a feed means for traction elevators, the combinaone of thebuckets.

6. Traveling buckets, a spout in feeding relation to the buckets, and anapron depending from the spout, the

buckets being at least as Wide as the spout (list-barge and the apronbeing at; least as wide as the buckets.

7. In a feed means for traction elevators, a flexible means, bucketsthereon, a gravity spent in feeding relation to the buckets, and anapron depending I'rmn the spout, the buckets being at least as wide asthe delivery end of the spout, and the apron being at; least; as wide asthe buckets.

In testimony whereof I athx my signature in presence at two witnesses.

ALBERT .l. GATES. Witnesses LLOYD S1. .T. SMITH, HERMAN ZDIFnmN.

